In recent years, Manga has seen phenomenal success, not only in Japan, where it dominates the publishing industry, but also in the West. As swift and sudden as the popularity of this graphic art form may seem, Manga has, in fact, deep roots in Japanese culture, drawing on centuries-old artistic traditions. Today there is little doubt as to the meaning of the term Manga, but few in the West understand the long artistic history that gave birth to this phenomenon and the social factors that continue to shape it today. One Thousand Years of Manga is both an informative account of the genesis of the form and a visual delight.